Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-07-02
THE INCREASED WATER RATES
MI. Crane Replies 20 Capt. Symons.

| MIs Cf8no fSepAaeS 70 capt SymOMss
| THE Ex-wArRR REGISTRAR ARGUES THAT THEIR
WAS NO NECESSITY FOR INCREASING TIE TAX on
| wATER-HR QUOTES FROM THE OFFICIAL REPORTS
TO SUSTAIN HIS POSITION.
To the Editor of THE EVENING STAR:
| THE STAR OF the 18th instant contains an inter.
| view with Capt Symons, in reply TO my previous
articles on the proposed increase Of water rents
and water takers that were IL not for the import
ance OF the subject, and the fact that 1t Is an.
nounced that the proposed increase In water rates
Is to commence with the present fiscal year,
would not take the trouble to answer, for have
nothing personal to gain in this matter
| 1t would be better for me, so far as
my pecuniary interests are concerned, to
pay the increase, and let the matter drop.
But having been born in the neighborhood of
where the tea was thrown overheard, do not
IKE the idea OF having an unnecessary tax. how
ever small, put upon me without my consent.
simply committee Of one, speaking for myself,
against what know, and can prove to be great
0 the have 10 With the
even by sight, the engineer commissioner, or his
assistant, Capt. symons, but propose to exercise
my own way, whenever and wherever
PLEASE have no time to reply Capt
II he thinks it COMFORTS with the dignity OF an
Army oincer. educated at the public expense, when
refuse TO give information to those who are taxed
TO support him, on the frivolous ground that they
90 not manifest what, in his Judgment is ga pro-
Tor the reader to decide
WHO IS THE "1GNoRAMUs,"
and who it Is that INDUCES in "false
| statements" Capt. Symons says: 81 have
not overlooked the law requiring nre-plugs
the law requiring fire-plug tax to be levied but
| know that both laws have been abrogated, and
Supersede by subsequent legislation" II these
laws, one OF which is an act OF Congress, tsee act
OF Congress, March B 1869, have been repealed,
Will the captain please tell us when and what laws
nave taken their place, giving date OF the acts,
served that when the writer quotes law he gives
the date OF the act he quotes. When the captain
may be right. II SO, it is easy for him TO estab-
iish the truth OF what he says, for no has the
books at hand.
Again the captain says: sit is false state
ment that there are several reports that prove that
as the number OF water takers increase the receipts
grow Ns less" did not say, and do not think any
the NUMBER OF water takers Is not as great now
as fifteen years ago, but that from reports before
me IL would Indicate that as the numOer or water
the receipts grow less. The captain
has furnished me with the figures to prove what
Saau ne furnishes table giving the receipts for
He states that tne average receiptA Ior the years
70, 80 and 81 was slOs, lSOs5." III then
JUMPS OVER FOUR YEARS,
and gives US the receipts for tho year ending June
30, 1886, as 1924, 1893 1s, and points to this as
proof Of the falsity OF my assertion. But there
is unfortunately for the captain, some figures be-
tween those periods that put different phase on
this matter. He gives the receipts for water rent
Here is falling OH o. "a, 1885 from the year pre-
vl0us. The next year he gives the receipts as
sS showing ss z. falling Of from the year pre-
for Tie year ending June So -. ne puts at slis-
two years previous OF $1s,O22.Ss presume the
captain, or his friend, Mr.. Bond, will try to ac-
count for this strange decrease and increase, in
those three years, ON the theory that the water
rents were "thrown out OF balance" those years.
This might do II the aggregate receipts OF the last
three years foot up more the first three years.
put such Is not the case, as the reader Will by
footing up the figures.
The average receipts for the three years ending
years ending June 80, 1884, sos, 5545s-average
decrease, $1O,648.37. THIS SHOWS that the average
receipts a J. ron July ISL 70 June 80 1854 were
three years from July 1, 1879, to June 80, 1881.
The period is too long for this discrepancy to be
'tnrown out OF balance" BY change Of time In COL
Letting water rents 1t does not take very keen
iLteuect to see that the captain SIS hoisted by his
own petard." The figures are all his. leave him
to settle 1t with himself. 1t should be borne in
mind that during those three years there was
GREAT INCREASE
in the number OF water takers. Mr.. Bond gives
the number OF water takers June 80, 1885, as
Is, 522 Mr.. COX gives the number June 80, 1880,
as 18 $40. This shows an increase in six years OF
z 1S2 subscribers, or an average increase OF l. 1877
per year. do not think the increase for the drst
years Was as mucn AZ Tor tns last three
1000 per year, making 5000 increase for the three
years This at the low estimated average OF % for
years OF $4,000. This added to the $lO,646.37
which Capt SymOnS figures prove was the aver
age falling OF In receipts from July 1881 to June
IN "a
$2s 646.37, June 30, 1884 from those OF June 80,
properly, why this falling OF OF $40, lac in the
receipts for water rents In two years, when they
should increase steadily every Year, The oflcials
are very prompt to quote the law requiring water
TO be turned OF for non payment OF rent and very
quick to enforce 1t on some. Is 1t possible that
they have been so unfair as TO allow thousands OF
water rent bills to go uncOlected year after year
while in other cases they have turned the
water OF and imposed 81 r1ne for non-payment
lowed? Citizens VINO have to foot the bills would
like to know the cause OF this state OF things.
Capt: Symons' report shows that he puts the
cost OF pumping water and the cost OF laying
water mains In one item, under the singular ex.
preston OF 'pumptng expenses and pipe distrtbu-
ton" In this way ne prevents people from know
Ing what either cost. What would be thought OF
bank on1cials who, when making statement to
the public, should lump individual deposits and
Outstanding notes together? It would be no more
penses and cost or laying water mains together
by the water department.. There Is apparently q
purpose in all this. What Is that purpose?
It win not do to fly into passion when asked to
explain this style Of bookkeeping.
THE PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT 10 KNOW
why their accounts are kept In such a manner,
II they were separated, and kept distinct, a. they
should be, we could easily ascertain whether the
water rents are sufficient to pay what IS properly
chargea0le to them. have concluded to Separate
these items the best can, and think will be able
to show that the present rates are amply suficienJ
to pay everything except the laying of water
mains, which are paid for by assessment But how
shall separate these items? l Will do it in this
way. Mr.. Cox in his estimate OF expenses for
pumping for the year ending June 80, 1880 puts
the expenses ''for material, fuel for pumps Oil.
tools, &C., at S9,4OO. do not see how those ex,
penSes can be much more now, but will he
liberal and estimate them at $12, 600 for the year
ending June 30. 1885. Capt. Symons puts the
year at $50 655. II. Ii we deduct from this INV es-
innate OF $4,000 for pumping expenses we have
left SAG 655. 72 the cost or ~ Oh feet OF water
main laid that year. We will set this aside for
future use and charge all the other expenses up to
water rents Those expenses copy from Cant.
Symons report as follows, viz:
EXPENDITURES.
Contingent expenses .....::........ 2,14a63
Pumping expenses, (estimated). .... 100000
Interest and sinking rund Water bonds 44eIO 90
Interest and sinking fund, water supply 55,O4727
123,124eo
WAFER ItuIS 1924, O6S ID
water taps. 5,O9O.OO
wafer peFmltS. .....s...s.s..sss........ 3456.67
133 514s5
Deduct expenditures. ................l 23,l249O